Three councils file protest over transfer of wardens’ administration

Three local councils yesterday filed a judicial protest claiming that a new system under which the regional committees will handle the administration of local wardens will be prejudicial to them because of outstanding contracts.

The Marsa, Valletta and Floriana councils filed the protest against the Prime Minister, the south east region committee and the Local Councils Department, holding them responsible for damages over a number of outstanding contracts with private companies linked to the local warden service.

The administration of the local warden service was until yesterday handled by the individual local councils and there were still a number of contracts in force that would only expire in 14 to 17 months’ time, the councils said. They claimed they would be exposed to breach-of-contract proceedings once the regional committees took over.

They said they were not given the opportunity to voice any objections to the decision.

Lawyers Aron Mifsud Bonnici, Abigail Galea and Joseph Bonnici signed the protest.